Kick back and relax at The Wine Loft

The Wine Loft of Long Branch is for serious wine drinkers with a discerning palate and a taste for something new.

It's also for not-so-serious wine drinkers who just want to fall back into a soft sectional couch and relax with a glass of William Hill Merlot from Napa Valley.

Or maybe a Carpineto Chianti from Italy, or a Graff Piesporter Spatlese Riesling from Germany.

Serious or not-so-serious, one has to be specific when ordering at this award-winning wine bar in Pier Village. There are more than 400 varieties of red, white and sparkling, representing winemakers from a dozen countries, listed on the 10-page menu. Beer, hard liquor and food take up a small amount of print.

Don't stress. There's nothing intimidating about this warm and relaxing space a block from the ocean. The ceiling-to-floor windows, covered in long brown sheers with embroidered circles, bathe this modern space in a natural light. There is a comfortable seating area to the left and a long inviting bar to the right. Just beyond the bar, those same brown sheers are used to create a private space with chocolate-brown plush sectionals, a big square coffee table and an oversized print of a young man looking at his reflection in water. The loft, filled with leather seats and small tables, overlooks this pleasant environment.

Craig Kirby, the general manager, said he often walks his customers through the extensive wine list and makes recommendations.

"You should never feel funny about asking questions about the wine," he said. "We just want you to have fun with it."

Kirby, 40, of Long Branch, said many of the bottles are priced between $60 and $90, and they go as high as $400 for a bottle of Dana Cabernet.

Wine Spectator magazine has distinguished The Wine Loft with its annual Award of Excellence every year since 2010. The awards are based on the quality and expanse of the selections offered on their lists.

The bartenders set the tone for this warm and inviting space. Kirby said the small staff feels like a family and that sentiment rubs off on the clients.

"If we don't know you we make a point of knowing you by the end of the night," Kirby said.

He noted there is only one television, at the bar because "we didn't want to take away from the intimacy of the place."

The wine bar offers great deals on food and beverages. Many bottles are half off on Tuesdays, and wine-by-the-glass is half off on Sundays as well as during happy hour, which is from 4 to 8 p.m. every day.

This special pricing allows patrons to enjoy a glass of Chateau Tanundra Riesling for as low as $3.50 or spend up to $12.50 for a Mount Veeder Cabernet.

The individual-sized pizzas are also half price during happy hour, and there is an all-night happy hour with a $5 food menu on Thursdays. The $5 menu includes bar pies, smoked gouda sliders with bacon and a side of barbecue sauce, blue cheese sliders with sweet onion jam, spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips, and iceberg Caesar with brioche croutons and asiago.

Chef Ben Folta said he has created a tapas-style menu and is working on more small bites.

The signature dish is the seared salmon served over an arugula salad and roasted artichoke hearts ($14). The pizzas, however, are the top seller.

The chef recently added handmade empanadas filled with chorizo and queso and served with a side of house-made chimichurri sauce ($9). The sliders ($9) and salads ($8 to $10) are also tasty.

Bob Devlin, who lives on the west end of the city, said he comes with his wife, Terry, at least once a week. Sometimes they come again on the weekends to hear live music.

"It's nice for people who enjoy wines to come in, especially on a Tuesday and try something different," Devlin, 61, said, referring to the Tuesday special, when bottles priced between $50 and $150 are half off. "It's the best wine bar around. They have the staples but try to keep the list fresh and new."

The Wine Loft is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day. The energy is low-key for the first few hours but revs up after 9 p.m. The crowd gets younger and the music gets louder as the night wears on. The vibe, though, is typically fun and very friendly.

"We try to make everyone feel special," Kirby said. "We are passionate about our customers and knowing the people who come here."